Car wash bosses say they are likely to close by the end of this year as flats are being built on their site.

The owners of the car wash at 127 High Street, Canvey, said the work on the flats is due to be started next year.

Castle Point Council said plans for the car wash to stay open have been allowed until work on the development is started.

The plans have come from Pemican which plans to build 14 new flats in a three storey block at the site with 15 vehicle parking spaces and a bin storage area.

The flats will all have two bedrooms.

The plans were refused by Castle Point Council in March but following an appeal permission was granted in July.

The business owners had applied for permission to keep the car wash open and about 40 island residents sent in supportive comments to the council for those plans.

Two residents objected with one claiming the business was operating without permission.

Stacey Omah, 27, a spokesman for the business, said: “We could close during the period between December and next January.

“We currently have 12 people working on site who will lose their jobs when we have to close down.

“We are obviously upset that we have to close as we have been here for ten years now.

“I think that it would be better to have a car wash at this site as there will be less traffic compared with the new 14 flats at the site.”

She added that she was delighted with the support from the island community regarding the plans to keep the business operating.

Yesterday The Echo reported on comments made by those residents who backed the planning application to keep a car wash open.

One resident, from Eastfield Road, Canvey, said: “I have used this hand car wash.

“I would not like them to stop trading.”

Another supporter from Rose Road, Canvey, said: “I am a taxi driver for a company, I find this car wash very competitive, very helpful and they are very nice people. They are clean and tidy, don’t make any noise and a number of taxis use this car wash which is why they have my support.”